Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-02-10
ICE THROWN SYYWARD.
The Strange Phenomena Observed Near a
Maine Town.
Rocto, PaoorJ

Boston Record.
Strange phenomena are reported from
Blue HILL by persons of unquestionable
integrity, writes an Ellsworth (Me) cor
respondent. They declare that nothing
of the kind has ever before happened
within the recollection of the oldest in
habitant. On Monday of last week. as
Reuben Gray was crossing Third pond,
which is large body of water, something
less than two miles across, his attention
was suddenly attracted by loud rumb
ling resembling the sound of distant
thunder or the passage of heavy team
over a bridge. The reverberations SEEM
ed to approach him from the direction
of an old mine which is located near the
southern end of the pond, and about one
mile from the place occupied by Mr.,
Gray at the time. AS the mutterings
grew more and more distinct NJ Gray
paused in wonder, unable to account for
what is now supposed to be an extraordi-
nary demonstration of mysterious forces
of nature. While ret in aquandary as to
what course he should pursue, the ice
under him suddenly rose to the height of
four feet, as though propelled by some
hitherto unseen power beneath. Then it
fell, rose again, and continued its undula-
rolled swiftly along until the head of the
pond was reached, when suddenly, with
noise that awoke the echoes of the old
Blue hills, there arose from the pond an
immense sheet of ice, which fell some
distance from the opening.
Mr. Gray, whose establishment had been
UNNECESSARILY heightened by these later
occurrences, critically examined this tre-
mendiOus block of ice, and then hurried
ly returned home to report the facts to
his neighbor, E. E. Chase, who was Blue
Hills representative in the main legisla
ture of 1885, and who is held in the high
est esteem by the entire community. He
immediately repaired to the locality, ex-
amined the pond, and found that Reuben
Gray's story had not been exaggerated in
the slightest degree. There were evil
dences of severe internal struggle, and
the huge ice cake, lying upon its side
testified to its intensity. Mr.. Chase OBJ
tanned the exact dime nsions of this block
finding its length to be several feet and
it's thickness fourteen inches. It weighed
about ten tons. The piece was triangu-
lar in shape and lay right side ur, with
the base toward the base of the opening,
the apex pointing in the opposite direc
ton. The distance between the two bases
was twenty-nine feet
One of the most singular circumstances
connected with this upheaval is the fact
that although the water at the place
where the ice was blown out was less than
five feet in depth, mud was found at the
bottom of the cake, proving that the dis
turbance began at the bottom and work
ed toward the surface.
Mr.. Chase examined the track Of The
disturbance, and found that the ice was
cracked and broken throughout the en-
tire length.
These strange phenomena have been
the all absorbing topic eff conversation to-
day among the inhabitants of the village
and the frequenters of the Blue Hill ex-
change.
Everything is now quiet on the pond.
and there are no indications of a repeti-
ton of these singular occurrences.
Many theories are advanced as to the
cause of this phenomena. By some it is
limited that a shaft of Blue Hill copper
nine may have undermined the waters OF
Third pond, and that the vacuum caused
by the sudden rush of water produced
the defamation and upheaval. Others
claim that they were produced by the
frost. Others suggest earthquake ana
volcanic eruptions.
The highest fountain in Europe is that
in the gardens of Chatsworth, the seat OF
the Duke of Devonshire. The height OF
this famous jet is 267 feet.
Canadian elections will take place next
month.